including representatives from APF, GOB officials, lawyers, academic, development partners, journalists and students etc. The main objectives of the workshop were to develop vision and strategies for furthering advocacy for the establishment of a South Asia Human Rights Mechanism and to deepen understanding among civil society actors in South Asia on regional human rights mechanisms to promote and protect human rights. A landmark achievement of the workshop was ‘Dhaka Declaration’ which has been a milestone for the regional cooperation in Human Rights protection. The declaration marked the following issues that needed to be addressed for improving human rights situation in the region: • • Continuation of efforts made by civil society in developing discussions relating to the need for a South Asian Human Rights Mechanism; Enhancing systematic and close • • • • • cooperation among National Human Rights Institutions in the region in addressing the common challenges and struggles of the people of South Asia; Supporting and providing constructive inputs to other National Human Rights Institutions in the region towards better protecting human rights at the domestic level; Ensuring fullest cooperation among National Institutions in the region in addressing violations that impact lives across borders; Strongly urging the SAARC member States, where there are no National Institutions, to establish National Human Rights Institutions in conformity with Paris Principles and further strengthen existing National Institutions; Collectively advocating with SAARC member States to establish a robust South Asian Human Rights Mechanism; Inclusion of commitments relating to Regional Seminar: Towards South Asian Human Rights Mechanism National Human Rights Commission (JAMAKON) Annual Report 2014 13